Never meant to lead

i have always been walking
sometimes i ran
at times i sat down by the stream
to rest while i can

i met him there and her
and i met you
and i smiled and i laughed
and cried too

and then i got up and walked
where and whenceforth i cared not
just took the path that shone
with light or with darkness fraught

with hail and with rain
and when the sun shone again
i ran a little

and when the stars twinkled
i flew awhile
and then again some more

but not much did i look
who ran with me
though i saw u fly some
and remember your shadow from when the sun shone
and was it your hand i held when i slipped in the rain?

yes i think it was you
or was it him or was it her
or was it just me?
whatever it was i know one thing for sure

i never meant to lead
and i never asked you to follow
so there's no guilt if you stay
or blame when you go!

The muse

You are back o' muse of mine!
to hold my hand and bring sunshine,
to cry my tears and feel my smiles,
to hold my fears and walk our miles;
to sing to me a song when i am forlorn,
to caress my hair when the sun is long gone;
to play me a tune that comes from the heart,
to tell me a tale that goes back to the start,
to lark in the sun and skim stones in the park,
to look at the stars and lounge in the dark,
to light up my loneliness and make me feel warm,
to talk to my silence and stir up a storm.

Oh yes. you are back, o' muse of mine!
My words! -all in twine.

WHEN

when did we stop walking together
when did we last wait for the other
when did we cover up the sunshine
when did the darkness seem so fine

when did the colours seem to brood
when did the words cease to soothe
when was it that i stopped  my listening
and when did the leaves stop their whistling

when did the joy leave the laughter
when did the taste last linger after
and when did the voice die in ur eyes
when did we start to hide in the lies

when did it come - the stealth of a thief
when was it ok to let you leave
and when did it seem improper to stay
when did the moon stop lighting the way

when did the wounds begin to bleed
when did our greed become the need
when did we grow used to the scars
when did the silence engulf the stars

when did my smile begin to think
when did the world begin to shrink
when did the chasm grow so wide
when did our feet fall out of stride

when did we last smile at a kite
when did the wind get bottled up tight
when did the water dry from the brooks
when did those petals wither in the books

when did it all turn into memory
when did we write the end of this story

FERGUSSON TIMES

I woke up every morning

Looking eagerly at the day ahead.

A day at dear old Fergi

With great friends I had made.

                         I walk into room no. R-6

                        As usual 15 minutes late.

                        At least 10 faces would smile,

                        They are used to the wait.

The lecture reels off in fun

And the next few we'd bunk.

Spend the time in the KIMAYA

Cheering up any face that's sunk.

                        Sharing a Pepsi among 11

                        And fighting for the last sip.

                        Tying up some shoe-laces

                        Or climbing to the KIMAYA's tip.

The pracs were real fun;

Ice down the shirt in chemistry,

Four great doctors in biology,

But physics was always a mystery.

                        Those fun hours on the stairs

                        Outside the chemistry lab;

                        Or an alien from POSEIDON

                        Holding hands near the bio lab.

And then in the evening

Standing at the gate,

We'd chat, chat and chat

Till it was real late.

                   Dhotis and lungis and saris

                  Trad day was celebrated with pomp

                   Chocolate day was great

                   Dairy milks and Perks to chomp.

 And the espressos at Radhika

Or Vaishali's SPDP.

Wishing birthdays at 12 midnight

When everyone's so sleepy.

                        Hey, I almost forgot!

                        Playing truth or dare;

                        Proposing my love to someone

                        Whilst others would stare.

College days were great

And those moments real neat;

With friends so sweet

I had all I could need.

                                                                                                            

--- Arindam